A car’s power to weight ratio is critical in motorsport, which means the 700 horsepower 935 tribute car, weighing in at just 1,380 kilograms (3,042 lbs), is the perfect companion for hustling up Zebulon Pike’s famed Peak when someone as skilled as Jeff Zwart is at the wheel.
The acclaimed filmmaker, Porsche enthusiast and winning hill climb specialist took to the 19.99-kilometer (12.42-mile) Colorado road course at the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which sees multiple classes of cars and trucks compete against the clock via 156 turns, 1,440 metres (4,720 ft) of elevation, and 7.2 percent grades, from the start at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway to the ultimate finish line at 4,302 metres (14,115 ft).
Zwart, driving Porsche collector Bob Ingram’s stock 935 that ran in support of Road Scholars, a Porsche restorer managed by Ingram’s son, Cam, wore a tasteful white, grey and red livery that included a prancing Pegasus on each rear fender thanks to main sponsor Mobil 1. The car completed the Race to the Clouds in just 09:43.92 minutes, which placed Zwart fifth overall and second in the Time Attack 1 class, which includes track and race cars based on production models.
The quickest Porsche driver that day was David Donn in a Porsche GT2 RS Clubsport, which also competed in the Time Attack 1 class yet finished third overall with a time of 9:36.559. The overall winner was Clint Vahsholt at the wheel of a Formula Ford in the Open Wheel class with a time of 09:35.490.
Zwart, now with 17 Pikes Peak hill climbs to his name, a dozen of which were at the wheel of a 911 and the last being some five years ago, had nothing but praise for the new 935, which incidentally still includes road-ready safety features such as ABS and electronic traction control.
“It’s the most comfortable race car I’ve ever driven,” said Zwart. “The combination of the turbo, the bodywork and the motorsport chassis is wonderful.”
The newly reborn 935, which was introduced at the historic “Rennsport Reunion” motorsport event at California’s Laguna Seca Raceway on September 27, 2018, is a race-prepped single-seater that shares underpinnings with Porsche’s 991-generation 911 GT2 RS, but features wholly unique bodywork from front to back, including some dramatic new aerodynamic treatments that closely resemble the original 935.
To learn more about the most successful production car in racing history, the 911 having won more 24 Hours of Le Mans victories than any other model with more than 80 class wins to its credit, not to mention plenty of other sports car events and series, contact Porsche Centre Vancouver at (604) 736-7911, or visit us in our showroom at 688 Terminal Ave, Vancouver.
Also, make sure to watch the following video of Jeff Zwart in the new 935 at this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Jeff Zwart | Full Run Onboard + Driver Interview | 2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (11:00):
Photo credits: Porsche
Date Posted: October 8, 2020